ABILITY OBLIGATION
CAN- CAN´T + INF HAS TO / HAVE TO + INF MAY – MIGHT – COULD + BARE INF
 To describe activity or lack of it He  To describe what is necessary, a
can sing – He can’t sing rule, or smthg we do because other
 To describe what´s allowed or not people tell us to
You can look at the animals but you Baby birds have to learn how to fly
cannot touch them (n)
 With future meaning We have to wear a uniform (r)
Sorry, but I can’t come to the party Do we have to buy another pet?
next week  The negative form doesn’t have to /
 With verbs of perception don’t have to is used to describe
What can you see? smthg unnecessary
I don’t have to go to work
PAST ABILITY tomorrow
 Could / couldn’t  Have / has got is more informal
We don’t kwon how fast he could
run PAST OBLIGATION
 To describe what was allowed  Had to / didn’t have to
Women couldn’t work in 1982 They didn’t have to pay the bill
WILL
 We can use it in informal language
to describe a rule
All student will wait outside
POSSIBILITY CERTANTY
 To describe things that will possibly 
happen
The next earthquake
may/might/could happen
tomorrow
 May / might be is also possible
This may be my last race
 We can add well to emphasized
You may well have the answer
 We can add well to show
disappointment
We might as well start walking
 May/ might not + inf to describe
that will possibly not happen in the
future
The next earthquake may/might not
happen for another 4 years
IN THE PAST
 May have / might have/ could have
for possibly events in the past
Jack isn’t here. He might have
missed the train (could not have is
not possible)
 Might haver/ could have to show
annoyance
You might have told me the travel 
was cancelled
 When we are shock (could and
might have)
WILL + BARE INF
When we are certain something will
happen in the future
During the earthquake some older
buildings will collapse
MUST + BARE INF
 When we are certain smthg is true,
usually with be or when we suppose
what a situation is
I have never been in an earthquake.
It must be really hard (certain)
You have done a lot of work. You
must feel really tired
IN THE PAST
 Must have + past participle when we
are certain smthg was true
You must have been really pleased
with your mark
-CERTAINTY - STH IS IMPOSSIBLE
CAN'T + BARE INFINITIVE
When we are certain something is
not true (usually with be) Or
impossible.
That can't be an earthquake! We
don't have earthquakes here!

BE ABLE TO + INF MUST – MUSNT + INF
 Instead of can  Smthg we personally think is
Many animals are able to see in the necessary and important to do
dark You must be more careful (personal
 Can has only present and past forms opinion of speaker)
but we use be able to for others We have to wear safety gloves (an
tenses + inf outside opinion)
I haven’t been able to finish my  We use it when we think the action
project is against the rules
We hope to be able to visit you next You mustn’t throw things (it is not
month allowed) (had to for past)
IN THE PAST You don’t have to use a pen (it is no
 With was or were able to necessary)
 To emphasize an intention
I must lend you this book
 For formal questions
Must you go?
He could have drowned  Can´t be/ couldn’t be when we are
certain that something is impossible
That cannot be Tom, he is in Russia
IN THE PAST
 The same but with have + p.part
Her can´t have got my message
BE BOUND TO, BE SURE TO, BE CERTAIN
 When we need to describe a future
event, we are sure it will happen
Its cloudy outside so it’s bound to
rain
CAN + BARE INFINITIVE
 To describe a possibility in general
but not with future time
During the earthquake, people can
suffer injures
COULD
 We use could to refer to past
possible situations
In those days the ships could travel
for weeks
 When we want to point out a
possible choice
You could always phone her
 When we are sure about the answer
It could only be the new Porshe
 We can add hardly when it’s
impossible
It could hardly be jane
 SHOULD/OUGHT TO
 to say what we think is right 
or correct, or is a good idea
in your opinion.
(This is not as strong as must)
You should pay more
attention.
You shouldn't talk so much.
 to give advice.
I think you should study
biology next year.
 In the same way. Ought to
or ought not to have the
same meaning as should or
should not
You shouldn’t wear that
shirt
SHOULD (NOT) HAVE
 To say that we think
someone has done smthg
wrong
You shouldn’t have put it so
much salt
You ought not to have
written your name
HAD BETTER
To say what we think 
someone should do.
There is only one form
had better /'d better.
The negative is had better
not.
You'd better wear your
raincoat. It's going to rain.
You had better not wait 
too long. You’ll be late.
BE TO
 This is a formal way of
saying must
You are to leave here at 8
NEED TO DIFFERENT USES
Need as a modal verb has REQUEST
no third person form. It is  A request is a way of politely 
mainly used in questions asking someone to do
and negatives, and is more something.
formal in use. Can/Could you help me with
Need I say more! this?
He need not take the exam
With the same meaning as ASKING PERMISSION
have to. Need to is not a  We ask permission when we 
modal verb. want to be allowed to do
You need to work harder. something.
You don't need to come Can/Could/May I leave 
tomorrow. early?
Do I need to bring my
dictionary?
MAKING OFFERS AND
PROMISES
 We make an offer when we
ask if someone wants us to
do something, or say that
we will do it.
Shall I turn on the light
I will turn on the light.
Thanks.
 Making an offer can also
mean asking someone if
they want something.
Would you like a glass of
water?
 Making a promise
I will be back in five
minutes. I won't do it again,
I promise.
 For a threat
You will be sorry
OTHER USES
CAN + BE + -ING
When you wonder what is
happening
Who can be knocking on
the door this time?
COULD
 Use to express surprise
How could you waste so
much money
To express how you feel
I’m so unhappy. I could cry
COULDN’T
Use to say it doesn’t matter
at all
I couldn’t care less about it
 To emphasized duration
I couldn’t be better
MIGHT
 Try as might/may
Try as I might, I couldn’t
reach the shelf (although I
tried I couldn’t)
 Perhaps smthg
I might just do that
 To express annoyance
I might have known it was
you
SHOULDN´T/NEEDNT HAVE
DONE
 To express thanks for gifts
You shouldn’t have
brought me flowers
NEED DOING
The bin need emptying